Windows 7 unattended installs Guide

Windows 7 unattended installs Guide

It took me a bit to figure out all this shit since there's not any very complete guides out there of what all you need to create answer files for windows 7. but after a lot of tweaking and testing, I have a 100% unattended install file that is nice and simple that I will now attempt at doing a writeup for.

what you will need:

• Windows 7 AIK (Automated Installation Kit)
• USB flash drive
• windows 7 DVD
• a computer with windows already on it (anything from xp to win7) to create the answer file with.

Download the windows 7 AIK Download details: The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows® 7

• install win AIK on the computer your going to create an answer file with.

• once installed: Run the "Windows System Image Manager" (WSIM)
• place the windows 7 DVD in your DVD drive

• then from WSIM go to file > select windows image

• browse to your windows 7 dvd and point it to sources\install.wim This will allow you to select what version you are building an answer file for. In my case I will be using windows 7 Ultimate.

• Next go to file > New answer file.

• on the left pane under windows image you will see a components folder. expand that out.
• drag and drop the following from the windows image to the answer file in the appropriate sections listed below
  
  • 1 windowsPE
    
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE_neutral
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Setup_neutral
  • 3 generalize
    
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP_neutral
  • 4 specialize
    
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Deployment_neutral
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer_neutral
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-UX_neutral
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral
  • 7 oobeSystem
    
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core_neutral
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral

Now that we have these sections added, we can configure them as follows (*Note: be sure not to change product key or registered owner/organization untill the oobeSystem pass of install to avoid problems with setup.)

• In the answer file section: expand out the passes you added components to and edit as follows:
  
  • 1 windowsPE
    
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE_neutral
      
      • InputLocale: en-us
      • SystemLocale: en-us
      • UILanguage: en-us
      • UILanguageFallback: en-us
      • UserLocale: en-us
      • SetupUILanguage
        
        • UILanguage: en-us
        • WillShowUI: OnError
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Setup_neutral
      
      • DiskConfiguration
        
        • Disk
          
          • DiskID: 0
          • WillWipeDisk: true
        • CreatePartition
          
          • Extend: false
          • Order: 1
          • Size: 102400 (or whatever size in MB's)
          • type: Primary
        • ModifyPartitions
          
          • Active: true
          • Format: NTFS
          • Label: (whatever you want) OS
          • Letter: C
          • Order: 1
          • PartitionID: 1
      • ImageInstall
        
        • OSImage
          
          • InstallFrom
            
            • InstallToAvailablePartition: false
            • WillShowUI: OnError
            • MetaData
              
              • Key: /IMAGE/INDEX
              • Value: 4 (this is the version order on the disk that showed up when you added the install image)
          • InstallTo
            
            • DiskID: 0
            • PartitionID: 1
      • UserData
        
        • AcceptEula: true
  • 3 generalize
    
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP_neutral
      
      • SkipRearm: 1
  • 4 specialize
    
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Deployment_neutral
      
      • RunSynchronous
        
        • Order: 1
        • Path: net user administrator /active:yes
        • WillReboot: Never
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer_neutral
      
      • DisableFirstRunWizard: true
      • Home_Page: Digital-Anarchy.com
      • SearchScopes
        
        • ScopeDefault: true
        • ScopeDisplayName: Google
        • ScopeKey: Google
        • ScopeUrl: http://www.google.com/search?q={searchTerms}
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-UX_neutral
      
      • SkipAutoActivation: true
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral
      
      • ComputerName: (name your computer here)
      • ProductKey: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
      • ShowWindowsLive: false
      • TimeZone: Pacific Standard Time
  • 7 oobeSystem
    
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core_neutral
      
      • inputLocale: en-us
      • SystemLocale: en-us
      • UILanguage: en-us
      • UserLocale: en-us
    • amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral
      
      • RegisteredOrganization: Digital-Anarchy
      • RegisteredOwner: Jigabop
      • AutoLogon
        
        • Enabled: true
        • LogonCount: 1
        • Username: administrator
        • Password
          
          • Value: (admin pw)
      • Display
        
        • ColorDepth: 32
        • HorizontalResolution: 1920
        • VerticalResolution: 1080
      • OOBE
        
        • HideEULAPage: true
        • NetworkLocation: Home
        • ProtectYourPC: 1
      • UserAccounts
        
        • AdministratorPassword
          
          • value: (type what you want the pw to be here)
        • LocalAccounts
          
          • Description: Local Administrator
          • DisplayName: Jigabop
          • Group: administrators
          • Name: Jigabop
• now save your answer file as: AutoUnattend.xml (note: *MUST* be named this or it will not be recognized by the installer)

Should look something like this when complete:

• place your answer file on the root directory of your flash drive.
• assuming you only have one hard drive in the destination machine (so you don't fuck anything up) place the install disk in, plug in the flash drive, start the machine, and walk away! you'll know when its done when there is a windows7 desktop up and ready to go!